Who (in CA) has Euro plates?

[DaveInLA]

I've been thinking about getting a Euro plate for my 325is, but here in CA, it's illegal to not have your CA plate in the front. I don't want to be one of those dorks who have both plates, though.

Anyway, an option is to have the CA plate visible from the windshield while the Euro plate is on the bumper. Anybody know where I can get a mount for the CA plate to be mounted on the dash or windshield or passenger visor?

[reelizmpro]

I don't know of any provisions for mounting license plates inside the car so you'd have to get creative. Maybe use some clips and double sided tape?

[i3uller]

I have had my euro plate for about 8 months and I have never gotten any crap for it.

[e30sd]

going on 2 years, i've been pulled over once, no ticket.

[parkerbink]

In the early 90's I had one plate on my car and was pulled over more times than I am going to say. The only time the missing front plate was an issue was in Santa Monica and I just went to a CHP station, showed them I had put it on and that was that. My point being even if you get the fix it ticket all you have to do is put the plate on and get the ticket signed off. (I think it may cost 10.00 now)

[DaveInLA]

going on 2 years, i've been pulled over once, no ticket.

What did the cop say? Did you have to visit the friendly local police station to "prove" that you got the plate?

[e30sd]

my friendly local officer was finishing up a traffic stop as i whiired past him on the off ramp. he followed me for a mile or 2, then lit me up. i gave him all the stuff he asked for, when he came back and asked why i had no front plate, i told him the PO didn't give me one, which was true. he then gave me a breathlyzer, and let me go. i dont think he honestly cared. oh well.

i find that as long as you're not doing anything overtly stupid (like most e30 drivers), you won't get noticed. I mean, shit, my car doesn't exactly blend in with the scenery. but as long as you're responsible on the road, you won't give the police a reason to pull you over.

[DaveInLA]

One more thing, guys. I went to some of those websites that sell those Euro plates, and they don't seem to have holes on them for the screws to mount them on the bumper. How do you mount the plates, then? Do you drill the holes yourselves? Or do you buy the mounting bracket, too?

[erik325i]

i've never been pulled over for my Euro plate. But I've only had it on for a couple weeks now.

One more thing, guys. I went to some of those websites that sell those Euro plates, and they don't seem to have holes on them for the screws to mount them on the bumper. How do you mount the plates, then? Do you drill the holes yourselves? Or do you buy the mounting bracket, too?

You can either drill holes for it, or buy one of those brackets that hold onto it from ebay. It's easiest to just drill it though.
-Erik

[BS87]

The bracket is like ~$10 from BAV, which has high prices for everything, and thats not that bad.

I plan to run my euro plate in front and just strap the real plate to the passenger side sun visor, and just leave it flipped down.

[Digitalwave]

The bracket is like ~$10 from BAV, which has high prices for everything, and thats not that bad.

I plan to run my euro plate in front and just strap the real plate to the passenger side sun visor, and just leave it flipped down.

That'll look pretty funny from the front of the car. Is that of the same legality as running it on the bumper? Cause if it isn't, you might as well just forget about it.

[reelizmpro]

I believe the way it's written up is that the front plate has to be on the front of the car and unobstructed or altered in anyway. I was pulled over once for having it behind my rear license plate. The cop just wanted to ask me why I had a "Denmark" license plate on the back...he was stationed there when in the service..blah blah blah. I told him i was coming back from a euro car show and pulled out some flyers. He then let me go without a ticket or anything. I don't have a front plate on my M3 but I do have a front euro plate as well but I don't put it on because I don't want to draw attention to the fact that I don't have a front CA plate.

[Fred]

I've gotten a ticket in almost every single county in the Bay Area for having that stupid Euro front plate. It's in my garage now.

[DaveInLA]

I've gotten a ticket in almost every single county in the Bay Area for having that stupid Euro front plate. It's in my garage now.

How much were the tickets?

[MR 325]

I just got a no front plate PARKING ticket

Wow

There goes $35